Combination toy and chair

ABSTRACT

A stool having in its top at the rear thereof a transverse wheel recess for receiving therein a lower portion of a wheel in an upright position with the major portion of the wheel projecting above the top of the stool to provide a backrest. The stool also has in the top thereof rearwardly of the wheel recess a paddle recess for receiving a paddle therein in an upright position and with a handle portion of the paddle projecting above the top of the stool behind the wheel, the paddle being locked in its recess against withdrawal when the wheel is in its recess. Upon removal of the wheel and then the paddle from their respective recesses, the wheel and paddle may be used as a toy by employing the paddle to roll the wheel over any suitable surface.

portion n of the wheel projecting above the top of the stool to provide a rwardly of the wheel recess a paddle recess for receiving a paddle therein 2,701,009 2/1955 Richard 2,702,584 2/1955 Williams et a1.

2,811,083 10/1957 Simjian......

3,159,423 12/1964 Gilbert.........................

Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-Harris, Kicch, Russell & Kern ABSTRACT: A stool having in its top at the rear thereof a transverse wheel recess for receiving therein a lower ofa wheel in an upright position with the major portio backrest. The stool also has in the top thereof rea in an upright position and with a handle portion of the paddle projecting above the top of the stool behind the wheel, the paddle being locked in its recess against withdrawal when the wheel is in its recess. Upon removal of the wheel and then the paddle from their respective recesses, the wheel and paddle may be used as a toy by employing the paddle to roll the wheel over any suitable surface.

P.0. Box 95, Dewey, Arlz. 86327; John M. Adams, Golden, Colo. 33,693 May 1,1970 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee said McKinney, by said Adams 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

52 [51] Field of Search..........

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1951 Appl. No. Filed mated States Pate [72] Inventors JayMcKlnney [54] COMBINATION TOY AND CHAIR COMBINATION TOY AND CHAIR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to a toy of the wellknown type which comprises a wheel and a paddle engageable with the periphery of the wheel to impart a rolling motion thereto. For many generations, this type of toy has been popular with children, young and old, as an amusement device and/or as a means of obtaining exercise.

While the terms wheel and paddle" are used herein to designate the components of such a toy, it will be understood that these components may take various forms. For example, the wheel may comprise a hoop or disc, as well as a wheel in the ordinary sense.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to combine the components of a toy of the foregoing nature with a stool in such a way as to provide a chair having a backrest when the toy is not in use. Thus, the combination in its assembled state may be used as a chair for the purpose of rest or relaxation between intervals of play or exercise. Also, in its assembled condition, the combination chair and toy occupies relatively little space for storage.

Considering the invention more specifically now, an important object thereof is to provide a stool having in its top at the rear thereof a transverse wheel recess for receiving therein a lower portion of the wheel in an upright position with the major portion of the wheel projecting above the top of the stool to provide a backrest at the rear of the stool.

Another object is to provide the stool in the top thereof rearwardly of the wheel recess with a paddle recess for receiving the paddle therein in an upright position and with the handle portion of the paddle projecting above the top of the stool behind the wheel.

Another object of the significance is to provide interengageable means on the stool, the wheel and the paddle for preventing withdrawal of paddle from its recess when the wheel is disposed in its recess. Thus, the wheel serves to hold the paddle and the stool in assembled relation until withdrawn from its recess. Also, the handle portion of the paddle, with this arrangement, can be used as a carrying handle for the entire combination if desired.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use as a toy;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing the invention in its assembled condition to provide a chair with a backrest;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged front elevational view, partially in vertical section, showing the invention in its assembled state;

FIG. 4 is still further enlarged view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view duplicating a portion of FIG. 4 on a larger scale; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 6-6 of FIG. 5 of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION Referring to the drawing, the combination toy and chair of the invention comprises three components, viz, a wheel 10, a

paddle l2 and a stool 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the wheel I0 and paddle 12 comprise a toy 16 which involves using the paddle to propel the wheel with a rolling motion, the paddle being engageable with the periphery of the wheel to impart a rolling motion thereto and having a handle portion 18 to fit the hand of the person using the toy. As shown in FIG. 2, the wheel 10, the paddle 12 and the stool 14 may be assembled to form a chair 20 having a backrest 22 formed by the wheel and paddle. Thus, when the person using the toy 16 tires of playing or exercising therewith, he may assemble the wheel 10, the paddle 12 and the stool 14 to form the chair 20 for use to rest or relax, or as a compact assembly for storage.

The wheel 10 may have any suitable structure. In the particular construction illustrated, it is shown, FIG. 4, as being provided with a periphery having a circumferential apex 24 which makes substantially line engagement with its supporting surface when it is rolled. Also, the wheel 10 is shown, FIG. 4, as molded from a suitable plastic in two identical halves 26 each of which is circumferentially asymmetrical In other words, each wheel half 26 has one cross section configuration throughout 180 and has a complementary cross section throughout the remaining 180. With this construction, the two halves 26 can be assembled, rotated lrelative to each other, to form the wheel 10, the two halves being suitably secured together, as by cementing. As will be apparent, this construction requires but one mold to form the wheel 10.

The paddle 12 is of one-piece construction and may also be molded from a suitable plastic. The paddle includes a relatively wide paddle portion 28 which merges into the handle portion 18, the edges of the paddle 12 providing shoulders 30 which diverge from the handle portion to the paddle portion. The paddle portion 28 is provided with a concave area 32 which receives the periphery of the wheel 10 when the toy 16 is in use, as shown in FIG. 1. For stiffening purposes, and for another purpose to be discussed hereinafter, the edges of the handle portion 18 are provided with flanges 34 extending perpendicularly from the plane of the handle portion.

The stool 14 is provided in its top 36 at the rear thereof with a transverse wheel recess 38 capable of receiving therein a lower portion of the wheel 10 in an upright position with the major portion of the wheel projecting above the top of the stool to form the backrest 22. The ends of the wheel recess 38 are provided with seats 40, FIG. 3, complementary to and engaged by the periphery of the wheel 10 when it is inserted into the wheel recess. The front and rear sides of the wheel recess 38 are engaged by the corresponding sides of the rim of the wheel 10 to support the wheel against a rearward force applied thereto, as by a person sitting on the stool I4 and leaning back against the backrest 22.

The stool 14 is also provided in the top 36 thereof rearwardly of the wheel recess 38 with a paddle recess 42 for receiving the paddle 12 therein in an upright position and with the handle portion 18 projecting above the top of the stool l4, and above the top of the wheel 10, behind the wheel. When the paddle 12 is in the paddle recess 42, the edges of the lower extremity of the paddle portion 28 are received in notches 44, FIGS. 2 and 5, which brace the paddle 12 against a rearward force applied thereto, as by a person seated on the stool l4 and leaning against the backrest 22. Lateral movement of the paddle portion 28 is prevented by stops 46, one of which is shown in FIG. 2, engageable with the edges of the lower extremity of the paddle portion.

With the foregoing construction, the wheel 10 and the paddle 12 cooperate to form the backrest 22, and are capable of resisting the rearward force applied to the backrest by a person seated on the stool l4 and leaning against the backrest.

The chair 20 is provided wit interchangeable means on the stool 14, the wheel 10 and the paddle 12 for preventing withdrawal of the paddle from its recess 42 when the wheel is in its recess 38. More particularly, the rear side of the wheel recess 38 is provided therein with a relatively wide, shallow notch 48 which receives the central portion of the paddle 12 therein, as best shown in FIG. 5, and is provided on opposite sides of the notch 48 with narrower, deeper notches 50 one of which is shown in FIG. 5, and which receive therein the flanges 34.

With the foregoing construction, it is necessary to insert the paddle 12 into its recess 42 first, whereupon the wheel is inserted into its recess 38. When this is done, the wheel 10 is seated against the paddle 12, as shown in FIG. 4, to prevent lateral withdrawal of the paddle from the notches 48 and 50. Because of the tapering construction of the paddle 12 in the vicinity of the junction between the handle portion 18 and the paddle portion 28, the paddle 12 can be moved upwardly to some extent even when the wheel 10 is in place in its recess 38. However, such upward motion of the paddle 12 is limited by engagement of the shoulders 30 on the paddle with the respective outer edges of the notches 50 in the rear side of the wheel recess 38. Upon releasing the handle portion 18, the paddle 12 will drop back down into its proper position, wherein the lower extremity of the paddle portion 28 is disposed in the notches 44 and between the stops 46.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions maybe incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims appearing hereinafter.

We claim as our invention:

1. A combination toy and chair, including:

a. a wheel;

b. a paddle engageable with the periphery of said wheel to impart a rolling motion thereto and having a handle portion;

0. a stool having in its top at the rear thereof a transverse wheel recess for receiving therein a lower portion of said wheel in an upright position with the major portion of said wheel projecting above the top of said stool to provide a backrest; and

. said stool also having in the top thereof rearwardly of said wheel recess a paddle recess for receiving said paddle therein in an upright position and with said handle portion projecting above the top of said stool behind said wheel.

2. A combination toy and chair as defined in claim 1 including interengageable means on said stool, wheel and paddle for preventing withdrawal of said paddle from said paddle recess when said wheel is in said wheel recess.

3. A combination toy and chair according to claim 2 wherein said paddle recess comprises notches in the rearward side of said wheel recess and wherein said paddle has flanges engageable with edges of said notches to prevent withdrawal of said paddle when said wheel is in said wheel recess.

IF i i 

1. A combination toy and chair, including: a. a wheel; b. a paddle engageable with the periphery of said wheel to impart a rolling motion thereto and having a handle portion; c. a stool having in its top at the rear thereof a transverse wheel recess for receiving therein a lower portion of said wheel in an upright position with the major portion of said wheel projecting above the top of said stool to provide a backrest; and d. said stool also having in the top thereof rearwardly of said wheel recess a paddle recess for receiving said paddle therein in an upright position and with said handle portion projecting above the top of said stool behind said wheel.
 2. A combination toy and chair as defined in claim 1 including interengageable means on said stool, wheel and paddle for preventing withdrawal of said paddle from said paddle recess when said wheel is in said wheel recess.
 3. A combination toy and chair according to claim 2 wherein said paddle recess comprises notches in the rearward side of said wheel recess and wherein said paddle has flanges engageable with edges of said notches to prevent withdrawal of said paddle when said wheel is in said wheel recess. 